Ecuador has touted “concrete results” in its fight against organised crime, as the country joins forces with the United States to conduct an anti-cartel military offensive.On Wednesday, the government of President Daniel Noboa announced that intentional homicides in March had decreased by 28 percent, compared to the same month last year.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of listInterior Minister John Reimberg added that 4,300 people had been arrested nationwide as part of the recent crime crackdown, and 2,200 search warrants had been executed.In a social media post, Reimberg credited Noboa’s leadership and the work of the Security Bloc — a blended task force composed of national police and military members — for the arrests.“President Daniel Noboa’s firm decisions to confront organized crime — combined with the sustained deployment of the Security Bloc, featuring effective territorial control and a genuine presence in the country’s most critical zones — are yielding clear and measurable results,” he wrote, pledging to continue the effort.Defence Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo echoed Reimberg’s remarks, applauding the work so far.“They are cornered — let that be clear — and this is just the beginning,” he wrote in his own post on Wednesday.But the crackdown has already spurred questions about potential human rights abuses, as Ecuador, the US and other countries embark on a more aggressive campaign against cartels throughout Latin America.Close ties with USPresident Noboa had run for re-election last year on the pledge th …
